Cubs interested in Bruce Bochy

[Backtobanks]

Well, as one of the guys at Goat Riders who has written and read a lot about these candidates, I can only come to one conclusion:

 

Unless the manager or GM is a part of a defending World Championship team, he's going to be disliked or criticized by at least a third - and probably as much as half - of the fan base.

 

There are some guys who have a generally good reputation, like Torre or Beane, and I'm sure that even THEY have their detractors. Therefore, we have to take some of these criticisms with a grain of salt.

 

Me, I would still sooner run a nail through my foot than see Lou Piniella manage the team, but otherwise I'm open to all of them. Bochy would be a very interesting choice, so would Girardi. Hell, even Brenly would be better than Lou.

 

Therefore, to sum it all up: nobody really knows what they are talking about, it's all guess-work until that final, championship game is played.

 

I agree. The bottom line is if Hendry acquires the right players and the Cubs have some semblance of health, the Cubs will contend with any of these guys. All of these guys have their share of supporters and detractors, but the fans and the media will jump on or off the bandwagon depending on results. There's been lots of threats about disowning the Cubs if someone like Piniella is hired, but most of the Cub fans will be waiting in line (real or virtual) when the tickets go on sale no matter which manager is hired.

[Laura]

Looks like I called it:

 

But according to several sources, Hendry's superiors quickly shot down the idea of pursuing Bochy -- a well-respected manager who has little sex appeal in Chicago.

 

He lacks sex appeal.

 

(Make your own joke.)

 

Indeed.

 

It seems a little bit strange that the Powers That Be would say "it's your hire ... as long as you don't hire that Bruce Bochy!"

 

surreal.

[NCCubFan]

It seems a little bit strange that the Powers That Be would say "it's your hire ... as long as you don't hire that Bruce Bochy!"

 

surreal.

As I said in the Piniella thread, I think McDonough either needs to let Hendry be the GM with the authority to decide who to hire, no strings attached, or else fire Hendry and replace him with somebody that does have full authority. I'm not sure I like the situation where Hendry has the title, but not the full authority.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Sounds like the marketing people would rather have a "name" than the best manager. That's more of the Same Ole S..... in regards to the Cubs. It's dissapointing.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It appears the San Diego media is also picking up that Hendry's superiors have nixed pursuing Bochy.

 

Link

 

Cubs GM Jim Hendry said Thursday he was expecting to meet with Bochy soon, but according to Chicago sources, he shifted yesterday after being told by upper management he can't go with Bochy because Piniella and Girardi, a former Cub, resonate more with the team's fan base.

 

This angers me, greatly. Either you trust Hendry with the decision or you don't. If you don't, then fire him.

[YearofDaCubs]

It appears the San Diego media is also picking up that Hendry's superiors have nixed pursuing Bochy.

 

Link

 

Cubs GM Jim Hendry said Thursday he was expecting to meet with Bochy soon, but according to Chicago sources, he shifted yesterday after being told by upper management he can't go with Bochy because Piniella and Girardi, a former Cub, resonate more with the team's fan base.

 

This angers me, greatly. Either you trust Hendry with the decision or you don't. If you don't, then fire him.

It's a HUGE mistake allowing Hendry to stay here as GM. It really makes no sense, especially with his poor track record.

[Outshined_One]

It appears the San Diego media is also picking up that Hendry's superiors have nixed pursuing Bochy.

 

Link

 

Cubs GM Jim Hendry said Thursday he was expecting to meet with Bochy soon, but according to Chicago sources, he shifted yesterday after being told by upper management he can't go with Bochy because Piniella and Girardi, a former Cub, resonate more with the team's fan base.

 

This angers me, greatly. Either you trust Hendry with the decision or you don't. If you don't, then fire him.

 

Bruce Miles debunked this in one of the other threads.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It appears the San Diego media is also picking up that Hendry's superiors have nixed pursuing Bochy.

 

Link

 

Cubs GM Jim Hendry said Thursday he was expecting to meet with Bochy soon, but according to Chicago sources, he shifted yesterday after being told by upper management he can't go with Bochy because Piniella and Girardi, a former Cub, resonate more with the team's fan base.

 

This angers me, greatly. Either you trust Hendry with the decision or you don't. If you don't, then fire him.

 

Bruce Miles debunked this in one of the other threads.

 

Yes, thankfully. I posted this before he debunked it.

[Wilson A2000]

You know what resonates with a fan base? A manager who knows how to manage and can win some games. I though McDonough was better than this!

[Laura]

Paul Sullivan and Mark Gonzalez / The Tribune[/url]"] Hendry declined to address the managerial search on Saturday after returning from Phoenix, except to say it's coming to the end.

 

"Hopefully, we'll have a decision by the end of the week," he said.

 

Hendry has been given the directive by interim team President John McDonough to hire whoever he believes is best for the job, no matter the cost, the length of the deal or the public-relations value.

 

Sources say the Cubs have yet to ask for permission from San Diego to talk to Bochy. But a source familiar with Bochy's situation believes a phone call from Hendry to Padres general manager Kevin Towers would mean the job is Bochy's to turn down.

 

"I definitely think Chicago has interest. It's up to [bochy] to see if it's something he wants to pursue," the source said. "I think he has to know going in that it's his job, and not the second or third choice. He doesn't want a situation that happened in Arizona, where [Towers] didn't get the job."

 

Towers was allowed to interview with Arizona last winter, but the Diamondbacks gave the general manager's job to the inexperienced Josh Byrnes. Bochy has one year and $1.9 million left on his contract, and also is considered a candidate in San Francisco.

[Balsa]

Sigh.

 

 

There's no way we realistically get Bochy. It's like voting for the Green candidate for Governer of Illinois. You know he's better than the other two candidates, but he never gets any good press and isn't "sexy".

[CuseCubFan69]

Sigh.

 

 

There's no way we realistically get Bochy. It's like voting for the Green candidate for Governer of Illinois. You know he's better than the other two candidates, but he never gets any good press and isn't "sexy".

 

Are you kidding? With that stash he has to be the sexy choice!

 

If this team is going to base it's decisions on what the "fans" want, it'll be worse than the college of coaches.....it'll be "The Fans Folly". They might as well lower beer prices to a buck and let the fans have some fun while the Cubs continue onto their 2nd century of not winning.

[Laura]

Bruce's articles yesteday and today are both well worth reading. (as usual!)

 

From Sunday's article.

 

Still out there is San Diego Padres manager Bruce Bochy. Despite being under contract for one more year, Bochy will be given permission to speak with other teams.

 

As of late Saturday, Hendry still wasn’t sure he’d interview Bochy. Privately, Cubs insiders are furious over a published suggestion that Hendry’s higher-ups nixed Bochy because he doesn’t have enough name recognition in Chicago despite being a highly regarded manager.

 

Hendry reiterated that he and new team president John McDonough are on the same page and that the managerial hiring will be the GM’s decision.